Draft gear



E. H. BLATTNER DRAFT GEAR Filed OCT.. 25. 1930A Oct. 25, .1932.

AN IN1,

Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES Lacasse- PATENT OFFICE;

EMIL H. BLATTNER, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO TH SYMINGTONCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEV YORK DRAFT GEARApplication led ctober 23, 1930. Serial No. 4530,746.

This invention relates to railway draft rigging and cushioning mechanismfor use therewith.

vThe principal object of my invention, gen- .i erally considered, is toprovide a preferably double-ended draft gear or cushioning mechanismwith twin arranged springs,` and adapted for series application toprovide a vgreater buiiing than ldraft energy-absorbing capacity, with ahousing slotted for receiving a draft key or other connecting means.

Another object of my invention is'to provide cushioning mechanismcomprising a housing or casing with twin arranged pock- 15 ets, each ofwhich contains aseries of ring springs presenting inclined frictionsurfaces in engagement with one another, and a closure member for eachpocket telescoping therein for compressing said springs.

i furtherobject of my invention is to provide cushioning mechanismenclosed in a double-ended housing having twin arranged pockets and atransverse webxdisposed between said pockets, and providing the inner"-5 walls for the same, adapted to position associated ring springcushioning means, the ends of said housing being normally closed by.inwardly opening closure members telescoping therein` said membersbeing provided with V" means for locking the same in place, withprovision for limited rela-tive movement thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particulararrangement 35 and construct-ion of the various parts will becomeapparent as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawing illustrating my invention, the scope whereof isdefined by 40 the appended claims Figure 1 is a partial side elevationand partial longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of mycushioning mechanism, an associated yoke and the stein of an associated4,-, coupler being shown diagrammatically.

Figure 2 is a partial end elevation and partial transverse section onthe line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

i Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Figure 1,looking in the direction `of the arrows. f

Referring to the drawing in detail, like parts beingdesignated by likereference characters there is shown a form of doubleended seriesfriction draft gear 1 involving a housing or casing 2 havinglongitudinal walls 3 and transverse walls 4, defining twin( arrangedcushioning mechanism pockets 5 which, in the embodiment disclosed, aredisposed one above the other, although it will be understood that mygear may be em-vk ployed with the pockets arranged side by side, ifdesired. Each pocket 5 is preferably generally cylindrical and joinedtothe laterally adjacent pocket by having the cylindrical wall portionsmerge approximately tangent to one another, forming a longitudinallyextending partition wall, as indicated by the reference character 6. Gnaccount of the transverse wall or walls 4 in the embodiment shown, eachcylindrical pocket 5 is divided into two longitudinally spacedcompartments, making a total of four spring-receiving compertinents orpockets 5. 75

The longitudinal partition wall 6 is desirably provided with arlongitudinal slot 7 which extends from one side of the housing 2 to theother, thetwin arranged pockets 5 being preferably so positioned thatthe slot Q: 7 is substantially tangent thereto, whereby said pocketsopen into said slot, as indicated at 8, economizing material and spaceand facilitating core removal. The slot 7 is preferably disposed midwaybetween the ends of t A the housing 2, and the transverse walls 4 arepreferably similarly disposed so that they extend from the mid portionof the slot 7. Then connected with associated draft rigging, the slot 7receives a draft key 9, the c; ends of which are received in registeringslots 10 in the associated yoke 11, and are continued into slots 12 inthe associated cheek plates and/or draft sills of the railway vehicle(not shown). The forward ends of the yoke arms are adapted forconnection with an associated coupler 13 by means of a horizontal key14, asv will be understood.

A front follower 15 is desirably disposed between'the butt or rearmostend of the coupler 13, and the front of the cushioning mechanism 1, anda rear follower 16 is likewise disposed between the yoke 11 and the rearend of the cushioning mechanism 1, the rear face of the yoke 11 beingadapted to abut the backstop 17, as will be understood.

The slotted portion of the housing is de- Sirably extended beyond thesides of the longitudinal walls 3, as shown most clearly in Figure 2, byproviding laterally' extending flanges 18 surrounding the slot 7 andthrough which said slot continues to the sides of the gear. The ends ofsaid fianges are preferably tied into the outer surfaces of thelongitudinal webs 3 by means of transverse tapering webs or gussets 1.9.The outer surfaces of the longitudinal walls or webs 3 at the ends ofthe gear are preferably braced together by means of transverse webs orgussets 20, and the upper and lowerl surfaces of said webs 3 aredesirably flat. as indicated at 21, whereby the housing, althoughcomposed of two generally cylindrical portions, is generally rectangularin outline.

Closing the outer open ends of the pockets 5 are four closure members orsupplemental housings 22, said closure members having end walls 23 andside walls 24 telescoping with the longitudinal or side walls 3 of thehousing` 2, said walls, where they receive said closure member 22, beingdesirably cut out or made thinner, as indicated at 25, to receive thesides 24 of the closure members be tween the walls 3 and the springs,generally designated by the reference character 26. In order tointerlock the closure members 22 with respect to the housing 2, saidclosure members preferably have lugs 27 struck out therefrom, and thewalls of the housing are provided with grooves 28 receiving said lugs 27and permitting inward movement thereof from normal position, as shownmost clearly in Figure 1, without bending of said lugs, while providingshoulders 29 for limiting out-- ward movement of the lugs and closuremembers 22, as will be understood.

Although a specific form of closure member retaining means has beendisclosed, it will be understood that this is merely illustrative, asother retaining means may be used, if desired.

Disposed in each pocket 5 between the transverse wall 14 and a closuremember 22 is a series of ring springs 26, said springs being desirablymade of rolled spring steel and the rings being alternately placed incompression and tension when the gear is compressed. In the embodimentillustrated, the

,X nest of ring springs is composed of individual rings V30 to 52,inclusive, the sprin gs 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 and52 being placed in Vcompression when force is apso that when the gear iscompressed, the force applied is resisted not only by the resiliency ofthe springs, but also by the friction developed at the engaging frictionsurfaces. In order to provide a gear in which the initial resistingforce is relatively small, some of the rings, for example, the tensionrings 31, 33, 35, 37, 39 and 41, are desirably formed of smallercross-sectional area and, therefore, weaker than some of the othersprings, such the remaining compression springs. For

this same reason, one or more of the inner or compression rings aredesirably split, as indicated at 54, to soften the resisting force ofthe gear at the beginning of the stroke. By having some of the innertension rings stronger or thicker than the remaining outer tensionrings, and having the pocket beyond the thicker tension rings enlarged,as indicated at an annular space is provided to accommodate the sidewall 24 of the associated closure member 22, and permit'the necessarycompressive movement thereof, as shown most clearly in Figure 1. Thering assembly is desirably packed duringv manufacture with wool wastesoaked in graphite grease, or other suitable lubricant, therebyminimizing wear on the friction surfaces and resulting in long life.

The operation of my cushioning mechanism may be as follows, assuming thecoupler stem 13 to be connected to a horizontal yoke 11, as by means ofa key 14, and that the corresponding slots 12 inthe cheek plates and/ori draft sills (not shown) are extended rearwardly beyond the normalposition of the slots 7, so that under the action of bufiing forces, thehousing is allowed to move rearwardly, while under the action of draftforces it is retained immovable, or substantially so, with respect tothe associated sills. When draft forces are applied to the coupler 13,the yoke 11 is pulled forwardly, moving the rear follower 16 toward thehousing and telescoping the rear closure members 22 into the housing 2,compressing the ring spring assemblies and utilizing only one half ofthe total capacity of the double end gear disclosed, permitting thecoupler to travel only one half of the total permissible compression ofthe gear on account of said housing 2 being held stationary by the key9.

Under the action of bufling forces, however, the coupler stem or butt 13engages the front follower 15, pushing the closure members 22 into thecorrespmuling end pockets in the housing, and at the same time, movingthe housing rearwardly to cause it to telescope over the rear closuremembers because of the rearward elongation of the slots 12, itbeingunderstood that the rear portion of the yoke or rear follower isassociated with the backstop 17, or other limiting means, for effectingcompression of the. mechanism.` It will, therefore, be seen that a fullcompreslily] lll) Lil)

sion of the gear at both ends is permitted on buff, thereby providingfor not only an increased bufling capacity but for a coupler travelequal to the sum of the travel permitted by the friction elements ateach end of the gear.

Although for convenience and economy i manufacture the gear orcushioning mechanism is preferably made symmetrical so that the traveland capacity provided by each end is identical, yet this is notessential, as the capacities and travels of the two ends of the gear maybe equal or different, as desired.

Although I have described a preferred manner of using my double endgear, it is to be understood that, if desired, it may be utilized sothat the total capacity is used under both buff and draft, and it mayalso be employed so that the side walls or side portions of thelongitudinal walls are disposed as top and bottom walls, that is, thegear may be used after being rotated through about a longitudinal axis.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, it will be seen that I have devised an improvedform of series draft gear or cushioning mechanism involving twinarranged nests of ring springs enclosed in a housing as a unitarycushioning device, and adapted to be used to provide differentialshock-absorbing capacity under buff and draft. By providing a housingwith a slotted central portion and outwardly opening end pocketsreceiving telescoping closure members, I can conveniently provide forthe reception of four nests of ring springs centered by the generallycylindrical wall portions of the housing, space being economized byhaving the slot for the draft key extend between the twin arranged nestsof springs and generally tangent to the spring receiving pockets. Byhaving the closure members 22 formed of steel, resilient lug portions 27may be struck out therefrom and serve as automatic locking means for theclosure members, which may be assembled by pushing into place until thelocking lugs 27 spring outwardly back of the shoulders 29 on the wallsof the housing pockets.

Although I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, itwill be understood that modilications may be made within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

I claim l. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing with twin arrangedpockets adapted to receive resilient means, a transverse web definingthe inner ends of said pockets, said housing having a slot disposedbetween said pockets and adapted to receive a connecting draft key, aclosure member for each pocket comprising an endwall and side wallsnormally telescoping in said pockets, said side walls having lugs struckout therefrom and adapted to engage corresponding shoulders on the innersides of said pockets for limiting outward movement of said closuremembers, the sides of said housing being grooved inwardly of saidshoulders to receive said lugs and allow said closure members to slideinwardly of the housing without bending said lugs, and resilient meansreceived in each pocket and held assembled by said closure members.

2. Cushioning mechanism comprising an integral housing member with pairsof twin arranged pockets separated by a longitudinal partition, a pairof said pockets opening forwardly and another pair opening rearwardly,said housing having a transverse web separating the forwardly andrearwardly opening pockets and disposed substantially midway between theends of said housing, said partition being formed with a slotintersecting the wall and disposed substantially midway between the endsof said housing, a closure member for each pocket normally disposed intelescoping relation therewith, and a series of resilient rings receivedin each pocket and nesting with one another so that. when force isapplied to the mechanism 'd rings are alternately placed under comsionand tension.

3. An integral housing adapted for cushioning mechanism and formed withpairs of Jtwin-aurranged pockets separated by a longitud nally extendingpartition wall, a pair of pockets opening in one direction and anotherpair opening in the opposite direction, said partition wall being formedwith a slot extending therethrough and disposed substantially midwaybetween the ends of said housing, the inner ends of said pockets beingdeiined by transverse walls extending from approximately the midportions of the slotted part of said partition.

t. Cushioning mechanism comprising a housing with a pocket adapted toreceive resilient means, a closure member for said pocket comprising endwall and side wall portions and normally telescoping in said pocket.said side walls portion having lugs struck out therefrom, and the sidesof said housing being grooved to receive said lugs and allow saidclosure member to slide inwardly of the housing without distortion ofsaid lugs, the outer ends of said grooves terminating in shouldersengaged by said lugs at the normal outer position of said closure memberto hold it assembled with respect to said housing.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

EMIL H. BLATTNER.

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